When I was a freshman in high school, I saw the movie, "On the Beach." It was 1958 version of nuclear holocaust, but without the explosions. The movie scared me to death as we were, at the time, convinced the Russians could blow us us up at any time and the world would be destroyed. Years later, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, what had been portrayed on the screen came dangerously close to being reality.
As an impressionable young man, I left the theater after watching "On the Beach" very surprised to see life going on as normal, not able to shake off what I had just seen. Many years later, I sat in a park at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, seeing normal people doing normal things. I thought what a tragedy it would have been if we had destroyed this beautiful place and if they had destroyed our beautiful places.
Recently, I had the chance to watch "On the Beach" again. When the powerful movie finished, I had the same gut reaction, but intellectually knowing what I had watched was the product of someone's imagination. "On the Beach" held up reasonably well with parts, of course, being laughable. But the message is not laughable. Through environmental consequences, war or some other way, we still have the possibility of all but destroying ourselves. If we do, it will likely be the result of some a misplace ego or just plain ignorance. I like my life. I like my family. I like my neighborhood and friends. I hope it stays that way. Watching "On the Beach" again, I was reminded how fragile life can be. On that cheerful note, have a great day!
